Dates of Presidential Primary Elections, Caucuses, and Nominating Conventions

In the United States party caucuses and primary elections are essential to choosing presidential candidates. This calendar lists currently scheduled presidential primaries and caucuses leading up to the national 2004 election. (Caucuses are in italics.)
 
In this context a "caucus" generally refers to a statewide gathering of each party's local political activists during the presidential nomination process. The purpose of the caucus system is to indicate, through delegate choice, which presidential candidate is preferred by each state party's members. Primaries serve a similar function, but they are direct electoral contests held to choose a political party's candidate for a particular public office. Depending on state law, voters cast ballots for the presidential candidate they prefer or for delegates who are "pledged" to support that presidential candidate at the party's convention.

Interview: Campaign 2004, with Thomas Mann >>>>